Bedard-for-Jones deal hits a slow spot

Given that this trade, or rather this proposed trade, of Erik Bedard by Baltimore to Seattle has been in the works for almost two months, maybe it should be no surprise that it’s going to drag on a while more.

And it will.

George Sherrill, who’s supposed to be part of the trade, says he hasn’t been asked by the Mariners to take a physical under the watch of the Orioles’ medical crew.

Chris Tillman, who is supposed to be one of the minor leaguers going to the Orioles in the deal, hasn’t been told he’s been traded.

And now Adam Jones, the 22-year-old outfielder who is centerpiece of the trade from Baltimore’s point of view, reportedly is saying he didn’t tell Venezuelan media that he was heading for an Orioles’ physical.

Jones reportedly sent an email to KOMO’s Shannon Drayer saying he hasn’t left Venezuela, only that he is currently out of the lineup at the Mariners’ request.

Which is odd, because the Mariners said Sunday that Jones had been asked to return to the U.S.

The deal may well depend on the whimsy of Baltimore owner Peter Angelos, who has been known to veto trades. In fact, Angelos has already vetoed a traded of Bedard once, when the Toronto Blue Jays tried to pick him up at the Winter Meetings in Nashville last month.

Angelos apparently had other matters to deal with Monday, so it’s unlikely the process will go forward before Tuesday or even Wednesday.